Climate anxiety is defined as a heightened emotional, mental, or somatic distress in response to dangerous changes in the climate system.
Here’s what we know:
Climate anxiety can lead to symptoms like panic attacks, loss of appetite, irritability, and sleeplessness.
More than two-thirds of Americans experience some anxiety. A recent study shows 59% of children and young adults between the ages of 16 and 25 are extremely worried about our environmental future.
Threats to our climate exist here in Pittsburgh, which is home to major air and water polluters.
What’s not as clear? What we can do to protect our own - and our children's - mental health as we work to improve the environmental conditions in our corner of the universe.
Please join GASP at 6:30 p.m. on May 10 for a virtual Making the Connection event where we will explore tools and strategies we can all use to build resiliency, prevent burnout, and keep away despair.
Our discussion will be led by Dr. Graham Standish, executive director of Samaritan Counseling of Western PA.